'Hey, the flag's up on the mountain.'

71 years ago today Joe Rosenthal snapped that famous photo and didn't know for sure what he had.  5th Division movie cameraman Sgt. Bill Genaust captured it on film.  This was the second flag raising, the first was a smaller flag replaced by this larger one later in the day.

71 years ago today. . .

The Marines landed on Iwo Jima 19FEB45.

World War Two is called "The Last Just War."  It has been famously said to have been fought by "The Greatest Generation."  If these are both true, then we must intentionally look back and reflect on the men who fought, bled and died for the freedom of the world.  Our entire world is a product of that victory.

Any Questions?

It is important as a nation, as a society that we remember those moments in our history.  The what we did, where it happened, why we did it and how we did it.  Iwo Jima is iconic in our memories of the Pacific War.  It is not a battle of maneuver and finesse, it is a battle of attrition.  A slugfest against a prepared enemy determined to kill as many Americans as possible to influence America public opinion.  Later enemies used similar methods to victory against us.  The flag raising on Suribachi captured on film by Joe Rosenthal, published so widely and used as a rallying point for a War not yet over and a cost not yet paid in blood and treasure.

32 Years ago today.

32 Years ago today Iranian backed terrorists attacked the "barracks" of the 24 MEU at the Beirut Airport.  Stars and Stripes carried the story on the 30th anniversary.  The GWOT, Large VBIED's are nothing new, simply the lexicon and the narrative have changed.

Semper Fi.

Marine Corps Marathon 2015

For your Friday morning mirth.

Once a Marine, always a Marine.  Or should we say Marines will be Marines in all things?

The Marine Corps Marathon map is interestingly aimed at. . .

Return To Iwo Jima

Good article over at the BBC.  Wood Williams (Cpl USMC, MoH) was one of the veterans attending.  So was Tsuruji Akikusa, an 18 year old radio operator in the Japanese Navy in February, 1945.  The article talks about Mr. Akikusa's experience being wounded in the initial Naval bombardment, and eventual capture in a semi-conscious state at the end of April.  A bit of BBC we (USA) are the bad guys slant to it of course.  Good to see Woody Williams doing well!

Semper Fi.

Today in 1965

The 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade landed at Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam.

70 years ago today

On this day in 1945 the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on Sulfur Island, known to us as Iwo Jima.  And so began 35 days of combat that cost the lives of 6,281 Americans.

Semper Fi.

Today in History

One of my early Heroes of the Marine Corps, Jack Lucas birthday was today.  He died in 2008.   He won the Medal of Honor at age 17 on Iwo Jima.  He joined the Marine Corps at 14, pretending to be of age and forging his mother's signature.  He stowed away to be with a friend in the 5th Marine Division and headed to Iwo Jima.  Semper Fi.

You can hear him tell the story in his own words.

On this day in 1776

The Battle of Trenton, 26 December, 1776.

Three companies of Continental Marines under the command of the Commandant, Major Samuel Nicholas engaged in the Battle of Trenton New Jersey.  These included one African American Marine named Orange.  Ooh-Rah!

The full story is available in the Marine Corps Gazette

General Washington crossing the Delaware.